Trade-Ins

We have worked hard to come up with a pricing structure that is as generous as possible to you while also taking into account the time required to inspect, clean, repair as needed, photograph and publish each item in the market.

Items are then priced as affordably as possible for sale. We have created a chart that will give you an idea of how much credit you might receive for each item you send.

Please note that this chart is only a representation of categories. Actual numbers will vary slightly based on the brand and model of your gear. 

Our trade-in program is still in its formative stages, so numbers you see here are subject to change in the coming months.

We rate the condition of all items sent in for trade using the same "acorn" system that we use to rate all of our items for sale. A team of gear-loving people inspect each item carefully and come to an agreement on condition ratings between 3-5 (in .25 increments).

Ratings: 3, 4, & 5

Your item might receive a "5" condition rating if it is in excellent condition and would look close to new after a cleaning.

Your item might receive a "4" condition rating if it is in very good used condition with minor signs of wear. Minor signs of wear could include light pilling along the seams, a couple of very small/faint spots here and there, minor rubbing off of paint finish to a zipper or of the reflector strips, some wear on elastic stirrups, light scratches on a water bottle- small cosmetic flaws that show it has been used but that don't stand out.

Your item might receive a "3" condition rating if it is in good, structurally and functionally sound condition and has moderate/visible signs of use. Some examples of moderate wear that are acceptable are moderate pilling (woolens), moderate tread wear (boots), a small area of loose thread on a hem, excellent outer shells but staining on the inside liner of a rain suit (this is very common), dings and scuffs on a water bottle, etc.

We will accept woolens that have a tiny/small hole- it's almost impossible to keep moths away and we can repair minor issues. Woolens are worth TLC!

Similarly, if you have a rain suit with a small hole or two that is otherwise excellent, we may be able to re-sell it on our weathered and mended gear page.

We can't accept items that are lower than a 3 rating.

As a general rule of thumb, please send items that you would feel comfortable giving to a friend- items that have some good life in them (at least a season for a 3).

If items are received that have moderate delamination (backpacks), multiple or large holes, major unthreading along the hems, thin/worn/matted fabric (socks), bubbling outer material (in the case of rain suits), heavy discoloration, heavy soiling on the outside, missing hoods or zippers, deep or heavy scratching, obvious shrinkage, etc, we will contact you to see if you would like to pay for return shipping. Items will otherwise be disposed of in the most responsible way possible.

New with Tags and New without Tags items are in their own category. New without tags must show NO signs of wear. If we find any small indication of wear, a close-to-new item will receive a rating of 5. Some light dirt on the underneaths of barely worn shoes is an exception as this is nearly impossible to avoid even when only trying on shoes.

Please don't iron it.

But seriously, you don't have to do much. You do not need to wash your items before mailing them. It's actually preferable that you don't, as we have careful washing methods that preserve the integrity of the materials.

We do ask that you brush off as much loose debris as possible before packaging. We will cover up all name tags, so you don't have to worry about removing anything from your items. It's better to please not cut a tag or scribble things out with sharpie- this makes it harder to confirm sizes and materials or to cover markings.

A note: We inspect our items very carefully. Sometimes we find problems with items that weren't spotted by their original owner- especially in the case of woolens. Please take the time to check over your items very carefully. We have created a handy checklist by category to help you look things over. Please double check for small holes/hidden flaws. Examine your garment along the seams to find any weak spots. A tip: you can hold your items up in front of a light window with your hands between the layers to spread out the fabric and spot any holes or subtle stains.

We want to give you as much credit as possible. That said, if we find problems that you weren't aware of we will reach out and let you know.

If you are partnering up with a parcel-pal to share shipping costs, be sure that items inside are clearly separated and labeled with name and contact information to ensure proper credit is given.

Please download and print our submission form, here, to be filled out and included with your gear. If you prefer to re-use an old envelope or paper bag or back of kid art (we love kid art) or whatever else you may have- that's totally fine. Just please be sure that all of the information on our form is included with your submission.

That's it!

We will contact you via email once we process your trade-ins, with a receipt and a calculated credit total. Credit by default will be sent through email as a code that can be applied at checkout when you are placing a future order, but you can choose to have a physical gift card mailed if you wish. Credit is good for anything in the market. 

If you have any questions at all about the eligibility of an item, feel free to contact us. We are happy to preview items before you package them up.

We will not be able to rate your item or guarantee a rating before seeing your item in person, but we can let you know if it is something we can't accept.

We are happy to coordinate local drop-off for trade-ins. For our customers who are not in close range, we want to help shipping to be as straightforward and easy as possible. We have a lot of experience with shipping and we are happy to answer any and all questions- just reach out!

Shipping is a cost that has to be figured in to make this worthwhile for everybody. We have found that standard USPS ground shipping based on weight of your items is generally more cost-effective than what you get for cubic space in a flate-rate box.

Here are some suggestions to bring down shipping costs and maximize your trade-in credit:

• Do a seasonal clean out! Send multiple items at once.
• Go in with a friend! If you fill a box with a friend or relative you can split the shipping, making it much more cost-effective.
• Do your kids go to an outdoor school? You can coordinate a large box with your outdoor community. As long as items are clearly separated and marked, we can split up credit.
• Think about what items you might have in your home that you are not using and are not kids' gear. Adult wool base layers? An extra Hydroflask in the back of the cabinet? High-quality colored pencils, field guides, or lunch gear? Nature-based games?

Reach out to us if you have items that you think are a good fit for Wildwear Market and we can discuss possible credit.